Kiko Mizuhara | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry

Born to an American father and a Zainichi-Korean mother, actress, model and Chanel favourite Kiko Mizuhara has emerged as one of Japan’s most visible style leaders. In May 2016, she graced the cover of i-D Japan, in which she was hailed the “Future of Japan.” The entertainer is one of the most followed people on social media in the country and has a huge following throughout Asia. 

Mizuhara began modelling in 2003 after she won a competition run by Seventeen Japan. The prize was an exclusive contract with the magazine, which, thanks to Mizuhara’s popularity, ran for three years. Mizuhara then became an exclusive model for fashion magazine Vivi. Today, Mizuhara regularly appears in Elle Japan, Numero Tokyo, Nylon Japan, Vogue Girl Japan and Ginza Magazine. 

Mizuhara was a favourite of Karl Lagerfeld and has featured in short films shot by Chanel, with the first following her preparation to attend a Chanel couture show in Paris. Her commercial clients include Uniqlo,

Jil Sander
Navy, Jill Stuart, Haagen Dazs and Huawei. She starred in Diesel’s Spring/Summer 2016 campaign alongside Joe Jonas and has collaborated multiple times with Opening Ceremony on exclusive apparel collections, which have been worn by both Beyoncé and Rihanna.

In addition to her modelling work, Mizuahara has appeared in numerous films and television programmes. In 2010, she co-starred in Tran Anh Hung’s “Norwegian Wood” with Kenichi Matsuyama and Rinko Kikuchi . She played the supporting role in Mika Ninagawa’s “Helter Skelter”, which is based on the award-winning comic of the same name by Kyoko Okazaki. Mika Ninagawa later shot Mizuhara for a photo book entitled “Girl,” published in 2012. She has also starred in movies “Trick the Movie: Last Stage” in 2014, “Attack on Titan” in 2015, and “Tornado Girl” in 2017.